<div dir="ltr"><h1 class="gmail-lancio-title">
Policy for DUP minister's removal of Irish name from boat cannot be produced </h1>
<figure class="gmail-lancio-figure">
<span class="gmail-img-responsive">
<span class="gmail-img-forcedwidth"></span>
<span>
<img alt="Policy for DUP minister's removal of Irish name from boat cannot be produced" src="http://www.irishnews.com/picturesarchive/irishnews/irishnews/2017/02/07/090305622-1d45f693-89d2-4cc0-8881-5c8a5ad7e2d9.jpg"></span>
</span>
</figure>
<div class="gmail-lancio-maincontent">
<div class="gmail-lancio-maincontent__top">
<div class="gmail-lancio-sharebar gmail-pull-right">
<ul class="gmail-list-inline"><li><br></li><li><span class="gmail-fa gmail-fa-twitter"></span><br></li><li><span class="gmail-fa gmail-fa-facebook"></span><br></li><li><span class="gmail-fa gmail-fa-google-plus"></span><br></li><li><span class="gmail-fa gmail-fa-envelope"></span><br></li><li><span class="gmail-fa gmail-fa-linkedin"></span><br></li><li><span class="gmail-fa gmail-fa-print"></span><br></li></ul>
</div>
<div class="gmail-lancio-author">
<span class="gmail-lancio-authorname">
Brendan Hughes
</span>
</div>
<div class="gmail-lancio-datetime">
<time class="gmail-lancio-datetime-string" datetime="07-02-2017 01:00">
07 February, 2017 01:00</time>
</div>
<div class="gmail-tag-container">
<h2 class="gmail-title">Topics</h2>
</div></div></div>
<div class="gmail-lancio-maincontent__top"><div class="gmail-tag-container">
</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail-lancio-text">
<aside class="gmail-related gmail-hidden-xs">
<div class="gmail-related-extra">
<a class="gmail-zoomable" href="http://www.irishnews.com/picturesarchive/irishnews/irishnews/2017/02/06/195809135-3ec1e716-2a70-4c5f-9e4f-d38e6f877a21.jpg">
<img src="http://www.irishnews.com/picturesarchive/irishnews/irishnews/2017/02/06/195808277-6838be86-c353-4793-97f2-33dcd865ae82.jpg" alt="Policy for DUP minister's removal of Irish name from boat cannot be produced" title="Policy for DUP minister's removal of Irish name from boat cannot be produced" class="gmail-img-responsive"></a>
</div>
<div class="gmail-related-extra__caption">The name of fisheries boat 'Banríon Uladh' has been changed to 'Queen of Ulster'</div>
</aside>
<p>A POLICY cited by a DUP minister in controversially removing a
fisheries boat's Irish language name cannot be produced by her
department.</p>
<p>Michelle McIlveen faced criticism last year when it emerged that the
name of the patrol vessel 'Banríon Uladh' had been changed to its
English translation 'Queen of Ulster'.</p>
<p>At the time the minister defended the action, saying her department has a "single-language policy".</p>
<p>"Daera (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) is a
new department with a fresh identity and logo and adopts a
single-language policy," she said.</p>
<p>"There have consequently been some necessary adaptations to assets transferring to the new department."</p>
<p>However, in response to a Freedom of Information request by The Irish
News, the department was unable to provide a copy of the policy.</p>
<p>Instead, it said a language policy is "currently being drafted" and that "consequently, it is exempt information".</p>
<p>The fisheries protection vessel was originally named by then Sinn
Féin agriculture minister Michelle Gildernew after it was purchased in
2010.</p>
<p>It is the only asset renamed by the new Daera department, which last
year took on functions of the old Department of Agriculture and Rural
Development.</p>
<p>Daera previously confirmed that it cost £302 to change the boat's name.</p>
<p>It said the new lettering was carried out during a "scheduled annual maintenance event" that in total cost £6,835.</p>
<p>The SDLP's Patsy McGlone, the party's Irish language spokesperson,
criticised the department for suggesting the decision was based on
established policy.</p>
<p>"This lays bare the unbridled ignorance and pettiness that was at the heart of the minister's decision," he said.</p>
<p>"This farcical act was completely party political and even came with a price tag for the taxpayer."</p>
<p>Sinn Féin's Barry McElduff also claimed it raises questions about the DUP's "integrity in government".</p>
<p>"It is clear the decision by a DUP minister to remove the Irish name
from this fisheries patrol vessel was totally disrespectful to the Irish
language," he said.</p>
<p>"The fact that the minister did so citing a language policy which does not exist adds insult to injury.</p>
<p>"This is another example of the total lack of respect towards the Irish language and identity from the DUP."</p>
<p>The Irish language has become a key election issue following anger
over DUP minister Paul Givan scrapping a £50,000 bursary scheme before
Christmas.</p>
<p>Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness cited the cut among reasons for his resignation as deputy first minister.</p>
<p>Mr Givan later reinstated the scheme, which provides grants to
children wishing to study in the Gaeltacht, saying that he did not want
Sinn Féin to use it as a "political weapon against us".</p>
<p>In 2014, the DUP's Gregory Campbell was barred from addressing the
assembly for a day for mocking the Irish language and refusing to
apologise, after saying "Curry my yoghurt can coca coalyer" – a
reference to "Go raibh maith agat, Ceann Comhairle" or "Thank you,
Speaker".</p>
<br></div><a href="http://www.irishnews.com/news/2017/02/07/news/policy-for-dup-minister-s-removal-of-irish-name-from-boat-cannot-be-produced-922505/">http://www.irishnews.com/news/2017/02/07/news/policy-for-dup-minister-s-removal-of-irish-name-from-boat-cannot-be-produced-922505/</a><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature">**************************************<br>N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its members<br>and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write directly to the original sender of any offensive message. A copy of this may be forwarded to this list as well. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)<br><br>For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to <a href="https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/" target="_blank">https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/</a><br>listinfo/lgpolicy-list<br>*******************************************</div>
</div>